"Shadow incoming," Bodhi coughed under his breath as everyone snapped their heads at the table toward Xaden who walked in. His knuckles were red, and Vyshena could smell blood on him that didn't belong to him. Her heart sank wondering what poor boy got in the way of Xaden's tantrum last night.

Garrick sat up and walked with his tray to the executive table, where he sat down beside Xaden and leaned into his ear. Violet saw how heavy he was breathing, then wiping at his knuckles as he shook his head at Garrick then looked at the table. Everyone quickly got busy in a discussion, "so, how'd everyone sleep?" Rhiannon was quick to ask.

Vyshena swallowed hard. "Gods, is there any part of my body that doesn't physically react to him?" It was clear as day and Vyshena swallowed hard again. She stared at Violet, stared hard enough to get the Sorrengail girl's attention but Liam called for Vyshena from across the cafeteria. He nudged his head to the door and she stood up, walking out with him.

"Thank you," she felt like she could breathe. "Violet has the hots for him. Now, they're dragons are mated." Vyshena spoke while Liam sucked in a breath. "Sorry to burst your bubble but everyone has the hots for Xaden." He said and she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and only one can actually get to him."

"Yeah, you, Hena."

Vyshena stood with the rest of her squad at the field. Professor Kaori telling everyone what they needed to know about flight lessons, then his eye lands on Vyshena. "Rider Lenayon, how about you help with this lesson?" Vyshena looked up. "I haven't rode a dragon in a few years, sir." Vyshena spoke, they bought her lie. "I would like to speak with you." Rio, in her head. She honestly forgot about the newly bonded dragon and regret filled her stomach.

"Fyda and Eon are aware of Threshing and respect the decision. Thanked me, even, for the company I can give their mother." And Vyshena grew nauseous again. Everyone's dragons had landed in the field, including Rio who snapped at a younger one who got too close. They were made for each other. "I'm afraid we're more alike than I thought." Rio said a's Vyshena walked to her.

"The boy. What did he do?" Rio asked as Vyshena climbed up Rio's extended front leg. Using her talons as a ladder she was up before everyone else. "Nothing, it doesn't matter."

"Sgaeyl only tells me so much, she won't overstep. But I need to know." Her voice purred, accent somewhat similar to Vyshena's, similar to Sgaeyl's. "It's just a fight that we've had for the past years. It doesn't matter." They were up in the air before she could hold on. "You are allowed to show weakness, princess. Holding it in will create a catalyst that not only affects yourself, but me, and possibly the entire world."

Vyshena felt the wind nip at her face as she lowered the goggles over her eyes and zipped up the riders jacket. Watching everyone else, some screaming as they were shot into the air. But Vyshena held on and bent forward gently, "I'm not going to talk about it because it does not matter."

"My sister tells me he is still in love with you. He is very angry about your fight last night. I told you I wouldn't-"

"And thank you, Rio. But I don't want to talk about it right now." Rio hummed, "let's give these children a show."

Violet jumped quickly as Rio crackled above her. From this angle, she looked twice as bigger than Tairn. Vyshena could hardly be seen on her back, she camouflaged amazingly against Rio's scales. "They are showing off." Tairn told Violet and she chuckled. "Well apparently she's had dragons before, so she knows all of this."

For some odd reason, Vyshena wasn't scheduled a chore so she spent the extra hour in the morning running. Running from everything. Her thoughts, Fyda and Eon, bonding to another dragon, Xaden. And when she thought of him, all air left her lungs as if she fell feet onto her back and it was thrown from her. She stopped, clutching her chest tightly and bracing herself against a tree.

She hasn't felt him since their fight two weeks ago. He hasn't thrown himself against her door, hasn't tried to sneak his way in. Nor look in her general direction when they're in the same room, which is quite frequently.

She let out a harsh sob, holding herself up against a tree. She felt like she was dying, like her heart was giving out on her. Everything was taken from her so quickly she didn't have time to adjust. She was forced into a school that teaches her everything she learned since she could walk. She's learned nothing, gaining nothing from this place besides heart ache, over and over and over and over. She didn't know how much she had left in her.

She grew weak. Someone her parents wouldn't recognize. Sure, they'd know her face but not her actions. She fails at everything mentally strong about her. He ruined her, and she allowed it because he was her entire world. A place without Xaden was no place for her. Sure, she had a part in his newfound hatred towards her, but it's what needed to happen. It's what she wanted to happen.

She sunk onto her bottom, taking short and shallow breaths into her stinging lungs that failed her. Her head pounded against her skull and eyes became swollen. She held her hands over her face, covering her weakness.

She couldn't do this anymore. "You can and you will," she became so weak she couldn't shut the door. She couldn't use her power, she couldn't push it shut, she couldn't even walk to it. The shadows stayed at the entrance, not daring to come inside her fortress that hadn't been rebuilt since it crumbled. "I can't." She sobbed, holding a hand over her mouth while she felt Xaden's heart ache against his chest and his shadows disappeared.

She had no purpose, no children. No, they were taken from her. Ripped from her fingers viciously like taking candy from a child. She missed them and debated taking Sgaeyl's offer in flying her to them. To bring them back and face the consequences but Rio was right. If they were to come here it'd be for a purpose, and not to calm the princess. She'd bring them here only if absolutely needed and she didn't need them yet. But she failed to realize they needed her.

"I will go." Rio's voice rang in her head. "Please. Just to check on them." She looked to the sky, past the vale where Sgaeyl and Rio had taken off from the skies, flying north to the place that no longer existed and she stared at the grass that was slowly dying from the winter months.

Violet. She had him now, it was up to her to keep him protected. Keep his heart safe, keep him safe. She no longer possessed the title to do that, no, they stripped it from each other.

She couldn't help but think she'd do anything to have it back, and did not care if Xaden knew it.